JPH06344843A - Air bag device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To unfold a lower part of an air bag prior to an upper part thereof to protect an occupant. CONSTITUTION:A guide member 20 is provided inside of an air bag 10, and the inside of the air bag 10 is divided into two chambers in the vertical direction to control the travelling direction of the gas to be discharged from an inflator 16 into the air bag 10 so as to be discharged downward. A lower chamber 24 of the air bag 10 is unfolded first, and next, an upper chamber 22 is unfolded. Consequently, an occupant can be protected sufficiently even in the case where the only lower part of the air bag is unfolded first. Since the necessity for unfolding the whole of the air bag at a moment is eliminated, the output of the inflator can be reduced. Even in the case where the volume of an air bag is increased, it can be expanded sufficiently large in time for protecting the occupant.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an airbag device for deploying an airbag in the event of a vehicle collision to protect an occupant of a vehicle. More specifically, the present invention relates to an airbag device capable of deploying the lower portion of an airbag early and then finally deploying the airbag in its original design shape. More specifically, the present invention relates to a vehicle airbag device suitable for a passenger seat or a rear seat.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A passenger seat or a rear seat airbag device is a device for protecting the passenger seat or the rear seat occupant by deploying the airbag in the event of a vehicle collision. A retainer or container for protecting the bag, a lid for covering the airbag, an inflator (gas generator) for deploying the airbag, and the like are provided. This airbag device is attached to an instrument panel of an automobile, a rear surface of a front seat, or the like.

A conventional passenger airbag device will be described together with its operation with reference to FIG. Airbag 10
Before the operation of the airbag device, is properly folded and accommodated in the container 12, and the front opening of the container 12 is covered with a lid 14. When the vehicle collides, the inflator 16 operates and the airbag 10 starts to deploy. The lid 14 is pushed by the airbag 10 and opens like a door as shown in the figure, and the airbag 10 is largely deployed in the vehicle compartment. Reference numeral 18 denotes an opening for guiding the gas from the inflator 16 into the container 12.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the above-mentioned conventional vehicle air bag device, in order to reliably protect an occupant,
Measures are taken to improve the output of the inflator 16 and reduce the capacity of the airbag 10 so that the airbag 10 can be fully deployed earlier.

The present invention provides a vehicle airbag device which can surely protect an occupant in an early stage without changing the capacity of the airbag 10 and lowering the output of the inflator 16 as compared with the prior art. It is intended to be provided.

[0006]

A vehicle airbag device of the present invention includes a folded airbag, a container for containing the airbag, an inflator for deploying the airbag provided in the container, In a vehicle airbag device having a container and a lid that is pushed by the airbag when the airbag is deployed and is opened to the inside of the vehicle, the inside of the airbag is:
A guide member for guiding the gas generated from the inflator to the lower side of the airbag is provided.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle airbag apparatus according to the first aspect, the gas rectifying guide member is made of a highly permeable fiber cloth, and the fiber cloth divides the interior of the air bag into upper and lower chambers. It is characterized by.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the vehicle airbag device according to the first aspect, wherein the vent hole provided in the airbag is disposed above the guide member.

[0009]

According to the vehicle air bag device of the present invention, the gas generated by the inflator is guided to the lower side of the air bag by the guide member provided in the air bag to expand the lower part of the air bag. Restrain the lumbar region of the occupant early. Then, the upper torso portion of the occupant is restrained and protected by the gas flowing from the lower portion of the airbag to the upper portion.

According to the vehicle airbag device of the second aspect, the guide member provided in the airbag is made of a coarse cloth or the like, and the gas introduced into the lower portion of the airbag passes through the cloth. Flow into the upper part of the airbag. Also in this vehicle airbag device, the lower portion of the airbag is first deployed, and then the upper portion of the airbag is deployed.

According to the vehicle airbag device of the third aspect, the vent hole for degassing provided in the airbag is provided on the upper side of the airbag with the guide member interposed therebetween. Moreover, no gas is discharged from the vent hole.

[0012]

EXAMPLES Examples will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIGS. 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 show the first to third aspects of the present invention, respectively.
5 is a sectional perspective view of the airbag device for a vehicle according to the fifth embodiment when the airbag device is deployed, and FIGS.
FIG. 10 is a vertical cross-sectional view schematically showing the gas flow in the airbag 10 when the inflator 16 is activated, corresponding to FIGS. 7 and 9.

FIG. 1 shows a vehicle airbag device in which the interior of the airbag 10 is divided into an upper chamber 22 and a lower chamber 24 by a guide member 20. The rear side of the substantially rectangular guide member 20 is fixed to the upper surface of the container 12 together with the rear upper edge of the airbag 10. The left and right sides of the guide member 20 are joined to the inner side surfaces of the airbag 10 by sewing or bonding. The guide member 20 is provided so as to gradually approach the center side of the airbag 10 toward the front, that is, obliquely downward from the horizontal plane in FIG. The guide member 20
A space 21 through which gas generated by the inflator 16 can pass is provided between the front edge of the airbag and the inside of the front surface of the airbag 10.

The arrows shown in FIG. 2 indicate the flow of gas generated by the inflator 16 in the vehicle airbag apparatus shown in FIG. As indicated by this arrow, the gas delivered from the inflator 16 toward the inside of the airbag 10 advances forward along the lower surface of the guide member 20,
After the lower chamber 24 is deployed, the lower chamber 24 collides with the inside of the lower surface and the front surface of the airbag 10 and is inverted, and the upper chamber 22 is deployed along the upper surface of the guide member 20 to the rear.

Vent holes 26 and 28 are provided on both side surfaces of the airbag 10. The vent hole 26
Is for discharging the gas inside the airbag 10 to the outside of the airbag when the occupant plunges into the airbag. Since the vent hole 26 is provided above the guide member 20, the gas from the inflator 16 does not flow out from the vent hole 26 at the initial stage of airbag deployment. Therefore, first, the lower portion of the airbag 10 is rapidly deployed, and then the upper portion thereof is deployed.

FIG. 3 shows a vehicle airbag device in which the first guide member 28 and the second guide member 30 are used. The first guide member 28 is installed in the same manner as the guide member 20 shown in FIG.
A space through which gas passes is provided between the front edge of the airbag and the inside of the front surface of the airbag 10.

The second guide member 30 is of a narrow rectangular shape and has a front edge portion joined to the inside of the front surface of the airbag 10 and both left and right side portions joined to both side surfaces of the airbag 10. ing. The rear edge portion of the second guide member 30 extends to above the first guide member 28, and
A space 31 through which gas passes is provided between the front edge of the guide member 28 and the rear portion of the second guide member 30.

The arrows shown in FIG. 4 indicate the flow of gas in the vehicle airbag device shown in FIG. Inflator 1
The gas sent out from the inside of the airbag 10 from 6 advances to the front side of the lower portion of the first guide member 28 and expands the lower chamber 24A, then hits the inside of the front surface of the airbag 10 and is directed upward. Change. Then, after that, the flow direction is further changed along the lower surface of the guide member B30,
After passing through the space 31 between the guide member 28 and the guide member 30, the upper chamber 22A above the guide members 28 and 30 is expanded.

FIG. 5 shows an air bag system for a vehicle in which a guide member 32 made of a highly breathable fiber cloth having a coarse mesh is used. The guide member 32 has a substantially rectangular shape, and its rear edge is fixed to the upper surface of the container 12 together with the rear upper edge of the airbag 10. The left and right sides of the guide member 32 are joined to the insides of both side surfaces of the airbag 10, and the front edge portion is joined to the inside of the front surface of the airbag 10. That is, the guide member 32 completely divides the inside of the airbag 10 into two chambers.

The arrows shown in FIG. 6 indicate the flow of gas in the vehicle airbag device shown in FIG. The gas released from the inflator into the airbag 10 is guided by the guide member 3
First, the lower chamber 24B because 2 becomes a slight resistance to gas passage.
Of the upper chamber 2 through the guide member 32.
Expand 2B.

FIG. 7 shows a vehicle airbag device in which a guide member 35 made of a base cloth having a U-shaped cross section is used. FIG. 7 (a) is a perspective sectional view and FIG. FIG. 6B is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. The guide member 35 has a U-shaped cross section that opens downward, and its rear edge is connected to the upper side and the left and right sides of the opening edge of the container 12. Further, the front edge portion of the guide member 35 and the airbag 1
A space 36 through which gas passes is provided between the inner surfaces of the 0 front surface. The left and right wall portions 35a and 35b, which are erected downwardly on the left and right of the guide member 35, are not joined to the left and right surfaces of the airbag 10 except for the rear edge of the airbag 10.

FIG. 8 shows the gas flow in the vehicle air bag system of FIG. The gas sent from the inflator 16 toward the inside of the airbag 10 advances forward along the space surrounded by the lower surface of the guide member 35 and the left and right side surfaces 35a and 35b, and expands the lower chamber 24C. Next, the upper chamber 22C is expanded by wrapping around the front and left and right sides of the guide member 35.

FIG. 9 shows a vehicle airbag device in which the interior of the airbag 10 is divided into an upper chamber 22D and a lower chamber 24D by a guide member 37, (a).
The figure is a perspective sectional view, and the figure (b) is a sectional view taken along the line BB of the figure (a). The rear side portion of the substantially rectangular guide member 37 is fixed to the upper surface of the container 12 together with the rear upper edge portion of the airbag 10. The left and right sides of the guide member 37 are
Except for some unjoined portions 38, the airbag 10 is joined to the inside of both side surfaces by sewing or bonding. In addition,
The guide member 37 is provided so as to gradually approach the center of the airbag 10 toward the front, that is, obliquely downward from the horizontal plane in FIG.

The arrows shown in FIG. 10 indicate the flow of gas generated by the inflator 16 in the vehicle airbag apparatus of FIG. As shown by this arrow, the ejected gas advances forward along the lower surface of the guide member 37, expands the lower chamber 24D, and is then unjoined with the side surface of the airbag 10 provided on both sides of the guide member 37. After passing through 38, it invades upward and expands the upper chamber 22D.

Although the unbonded portion 38 is provided only on the side portion of the guide member 37 in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, it may be provided on the front portion of the guide member 37.

The operation of the vehicle air bag system of this embodiment having the above construction will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 to 13 are schematic cross-sectional views showing the positional relationship between the airbag 10 and the occupant 40 during a vehicle collision.

In general, at the time of a frontal collision of a vehicle, the occupant throws out the entire body forward while maintaining the riding posture due to inertia, and then makes the upper half of the body rotate forward with the waist as the center of rotation.

FIG. 11 shows a state in which the lower portion of the airbag 10 is deployed to restrain the waist of the occupant 40. As described above, in the vehicle airbag apparatus of this embodiment, the airbag 10 is first deployed from the lower chamber. 11th
In the figure, the lower portion of the airbag 10 is almost fully deployed, but the upper portion of the airbag 10 is not yet fully deployed.

FIG. 12 shows the continuously released gas,
It is shown that the occupant 40 presses the lower part of the airbag 10 to deploy the upper chamber of the airbag 10.

FIG. 13 shows a state in which the impact when the occupant 40 thrusts into the airbag 10 is absorbed by releasing the gas from the vent hole 26 provided in the airbag 10. . Note that the 11th to 13th
The figure shows the operation of the airbag 10 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, but FIGS. 1, 2 and 5, 5 and 6, 7, 8 and 9,
The airbag of FIG. 10 also protects the occupant in the same manner as in FIGS.

[0031]

In the vehicle airbag device of the present invention, the lower part of the airbag is first deployed to protect the lower part of the occupant's body when the vehicle collides, and then the upper part of the airbag is deployed to protect the upper part of the occupant's body. Therefore, the occupant can be sufficiently protected even if the airbag is deployed with a partial time difference. Therefore, it is not necessary to instantly fully deploy the airbag, so that the output of the inflator can be reduced. Further, even if the volume of the airbag is large, the airbag can be deployed sufficiently large in time for passenger protection.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional perspective view of a vehicle airbag device according to an embodiment when it is deployed.

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the vehicle airbag device according to the embodiment when deployed.

FIG. 3 is a sectional perspective view of the vehicle airbag device according to the embodiment when the airbag device is deployed.

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the vehicle airbag apparatus according to the embodiment when deployed.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the vehicle airbag apparatus according to the embodiment when deployed.

FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the vehicle airbag device according to the embodiment when the vehicle airbag device is deployed.

FIG. 7 (a) is a sectional perspective view of the vehicle airbag device according to the embodiment at the time of deployment, and FIG. 7 (b) is a sectional view of FIG.
It is a -B line sectional view.

FIG. 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the vehicle airbag device according to the embodiment when deployed.

FIG. 9A is a sectional perspective view of the vehicle airbag apparatus according to the embodiment when the vehicle airbag apparatus is deployed, and FIG. 9B is a sectional view of FIG. 9A.
It is a -B line sectional view.

FIG. 10 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the vehicle airbag device according to the embodiment when deployed.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing an outline of the vehicle airbag apparatus according to the embodiment when deployed.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing an outline of the vehicle airbag apparatus according to the embodiment when deployed.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing an outline of the vehicle airbag apparatus according to the embodiment when it is deployed.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional perspective view of a conventional airbag device for a vehicle at the time of deployment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Airbag 12 Container 16 Inflator 20, 28, 30, 32, 35, 37 Guide member 26 Vent hole

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A folded airbag, a container accommodating the airbag, an inflator for deploying the airbag provided in the container, and the container covered with the airbag to deploy the airbag. In a vehicle airbag device having a lid that is sometimes pushed by the airbag and opened to the vehicle interior side, in order to guide gas generated from an inflator to the lower side of the airbag inside the airbag. An air bag device for a vehicle, comprising: 2. The vehicle airbag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the gas rectifying guide member is made of a highly breathable fiber cloth, and the fiber cloth divides the interior of the airbag into upper and lower chambers. . 3. The vehicle airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the vent hole provided in the airbag is disposed above the guide member.